Broad Beans: Grow it! Eat it!

In this part of the series, Grow it! Eat it!, we will talk about growing, harvesting, cooking, and eating broad beans, nomnomnom.

Grow It!

These garden giants are either sown in the garden in late winter/early spring for a late spring harvest or in the fall for a harvest the following summer. I like to plant them in the fall as I have had the most success with that method and they can be planted when most of the other veggies have been harvested.

In a nice sunny area of the garden, push the seeds into soil that has had compost added. Cover up with soil and wait for the bean stocks to appear.

Large spongy pods will grow and look quite puffy when the beans are ready to harvest.

Aphids LOVE broad beans but never fear, they aren’t getting the part that you want, the meaty bean inside the pod is safe even if the aphids look like this (ick). Simply wipe them off and shell your beans. Control aphids by hosing them with a strong spray when you are watering the garden. Once dislodged they can’t climb back up and will die.

Eat It!

You may have lost your appetite a little with all this talk of aphids, but once you cook up those beans you will forget all about it. These are seriously one of the most delicious veggies in your garden. That plus the fact they are packed with protein and fiber, you are going to take on anyone who tries to eat your broad beans before you do!

Broad Beans with Pancetta

shelled broad beans

chopped pancetta

oilve oil

salt & fresh ground pepper to taste

Put all of the ingredients into a pan and sauté on medium low until the pancetta is crispy and the beans are bright green with some caramelization on the outside. Now wait for them to cool a little. Really, you are going to burn your mouth! I know it’s hard to wait but when they are a bit cooler, sit down and enjoy this as a side dish, as if whatever is beside it can compete. Just eat them. Yummy, right?

I’ve already sown a couple of broadbeans inside on the windowsill that will hopefully develop into decent sized plants before going out towards the beggining of march. Bunyards exhibition I think they were.

What varieties do you recommend to over-winter or will any generally work?

JaniceOctober 6,14

I live in zone 6, in the Missouri bootheel. Normally, this area has mild winters with little snow. But LAST winter…OH.MY.WORD!!! Frigid, frozen, and lots of snow!! More like Saint Louis winters than SE Missouri winters! So, my question is, can broadbeans be planted in the fall here? Or would Spring be better? Do they survive the winter cold, snow, and frozen ground? I have never grown broadbeans, even when living in Saint Louis or central Missouri. Would really like to give them a whirl!! They sound delish!!

Hi Janice, in colder zones they are usually planted in the spring, but it can’t hurt to throw some in the ground now and see what happens, right? That’s what I would do. Who knows, this winter may be mild! And they are delish. Totally worth growing.

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